<b><br />
BACK IN THE DAY</b><br />
The scientific development of training techniques--inspired by the fierce contest for Olympic medals between East and West--was in its infancy. Cyclists followed the same model used since the dawn of competitive racing in the 1870s: miles, miles, and more miles.
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>TODAY&mdash;AND BEYOND</b><br />
<b>Earn bragging rights</b> A number of websites can track your <a href="http://bicycling.com/blogs/alloverthemap/2011/03/08/all-over-the-apps-tu... via smartphone</a> or <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/gearfinderproductlist?gfpagetype=subcategory&am... bike unit</a>. But Strava.com records speed, time, power, and VAM (average climbing speed) over select routes, like that notorious local hill, and automatically ranks them against metrics from other app users. <strong><br />
Find your perfect match</strong> Retul made 3-D motion-capture technology a standardized bike-fitting tool. The next step? Retul's Frame Finder program will provide fitters with a database of bike geometries and equipment, allowing them to select the bike best suited to a rider. <strong><br />
Suck it up</strong> Many cyclists use tools such as foam rollers to break up muscle adhesions. But adhesions can also form in the soft tisssue under the skin, limiting mobility and causing pain. Enter Acucups, which stick to the body and pull skin away from subcutaneous soft tissue--similar to getting a massage with a vacuum. &quot;Cyclists can treat IT band pain by sticking the cups to their hips and spinning on a trainer,&quot; says Texas-based physical therapist Mark Hernandez. &quot;Minor hickies may result, but relief is often immediate.&quot;</p>

<p><br />
<b>BACK IN THE DAY</b><br />
Racers used quill pedals, commonly made with aluminum bodies and chrome-plated quills with teeth. The problem was the toe clips and straps that secured riders' feet to the pedals: In a race, the strap had to be tight. Attacking on a climb or launching a sprint nearly ripped the rider's foot in half. <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/gearfinderproductlist?gfpagetype=mfg&amp;gfid=9... invented the first modern clipless model, the M-71, in 1970.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>TODAY&mdash;AND BEYOND</b><br />
Check for imbalances in your pedal stroke with pedal-based <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/2011-bike-and-gear-previews/look-keo... meters from Polar</a> (in partnership with Look) and Garmin, to be released in early 2012.</p>

<p><br><b>BACK IN THE DAY</b><br />
Alex Moulton's F frame&mdash;the first compact, unisex, separable, full-suspension, 16-inch-wheel bicycle&mdash;came out in 1962. It was the first big innovation in frame design since John Kemp Starley began manufacturing the Rover Safety bicycle with a diamond-shaped frame in 1885.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>TODAY&mdash;AND BEYOND</b><br />
Most hubs appear nearly identical to their ancient predecessors. But the Kappius Components Evolution hub has a cassette-body interface that's twice the diameter of typical models, with bearings spaced at least 50 percent wider. The design allows for near-instant engagement when a coasting rider begins pedaling. &quot;Imagine the energy you can save jumping out of corners or working your way up a technical climb,&quot; says creator Russell Kappius. Front mountain hubs are available now, with more options coming this spring.</p>

<p><br />
<b>BACK IN THE DAY</b><br />
In the '60s cyclists knew little about the relationship between diet and performance, so they ate anything that came their way. Soigneurs, the forebears of dietitians, served riders everything from egg yolks in port to extracts of toad venom to cattle feed boiled up with porridge. The first scientifically formulated sports drink, Gatorade, was created in 1965, spawning a multibillion-dollar industry.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>TODAY&mdash;AND BEYOND</b><br />
Many top cyclists are using a clandestine powder called Secret Drink Mix, according to a company spokesperson known only as X. &quot;Since the racers are sponsored by other drink companies, we aren't at liberty to divulge their names,&quot; X says. <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/news/featured-stories/out-lim">Cycling scientist Allen Lim</a> and Stanford University researcher Stacy Sims created the guarded SDM formula. SDM claims that its undisclosed sucrose-to-glucose ratio and focus on <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/how-and-when-hydrate">cycling hydration</a> over caloric replacement set it apart from other, more sugary mixes, which can cause GI distress when consumed in large quantities.</p>

<p><br />
<b>BACK IN THE DAY</b><br />
In 1963, Chicago-based <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/gearfinderproductlist?gfpagetype=mfg&amp;gfid=9... Bikes</a> introduced a new kids' bike, inspired by chopper motorcycles. The popular Sting-Ray had an ape-hanger handlebar, a banana seat, 20-inch wheels, and a top-tube shifter. Numerous foreign and U.S.companies began producing their own versions. The craze marked a cultural shift: Before long, many people would consider the bicycle a toy rather than a practical form of transportation.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>TODAY&mdash;AND BEYOND</b><br />
As Americans rediscover transportation cycling, Euro-style shared-bike programs are on the rise. The first large-scale U.S. operation, now called <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/news/featured-stories/5-washington-dc">Capital Bikeshare</a>, debuted in Washington, DC, in 2008; today, more than 15 U.S. cities have programs. &quot;The bike share brings in a different type of cyclist and increases overall ridership,&quot; says Capital Bikeshare project manager Chris Holben. &quot;That makes it easier for us to advocate for bike lanes and paths.&quot;</p>

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